Floor and flooe block



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. T. A. LEE.

FLOOR AND FLOOR BLOCK. No. 522,425. Patented July 3, 1894.

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(No'Model.) n ZSheetS-Shet 2.

T. A. LEE.

PLooR AND FALooBLocK. No.. 522,425.

Patented July s, 1894 ngz Ilya

which form a part of this specification.

bor, for it is only necessarytoinstruct the or arch-blocks being carefully cemented upon-'- -toward each other as they approach the top in position the' plaster or other cement is 'i Such briefly, is my invention. In the acemails-frisia PATNT OFFICE.

THOMAS ALEE, OF NEW YORK, Nyr.

FLOOR -ANo FLOOR-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 522,425, dated July 3, 1894.

Appuationnea tpm 27, 189s.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. LEE, of the city of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and `useful Improvements in Floors and Floor-Blocksof which the following isa description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

My invention relates particularly to the formation of fire-proof floors of porous terra cotta or other tile and to floor blocksforuse therein. My purpose is to produce floors and floor blocks in such a manner that unskilled labor may surely and accurately lay the floors, and that the floors when complete may be as strong, light, and durable, as those far more expensively andcarefully formedlby other methods employing high priced expert labor.

To these ends, my invention is embodied in the iioor construction and in the individual blocks vand parts, constructed, arranged, combined, and used, -substantially in themanner hereinafter described, illustrated, and claimed. Y

Fire proof tile floors have usually heretofore been constructed on the arch or on the I- beam-and-iiat-arch principle, thelioor blocks their faces and ends and placed in position by skilled masons. Under my invention the lioor blocks, containing hollows, as usual, are about two feet long and fitted at the factory with end slabs covering the endsof the hollows and completely iuclosing them. In its. preferred form the walls of eachrblock, including the end slabs, are inclined inward or of the block, or are formed with a projecting flange or rib at the base; so that, when placed together base-to-base uponv the scaffolding or temporary support, channel-shaped spaces are left between the blocks, After being laid poured or preferably packed and pounded into the channels, completing the floor. By this process I am enabledtouse unskilled laworkmen to rst lay the blocks regularly in courses with their bases touching and breaking joints and t0 afterward fill the channels with the cement.

of leaving V-shaped channels sain no. 472,115. (No modal of one of the blocks and the joints of thev neighboring blocks, showing part of the ends ofthe neighboring blocks. Fig. 4 is a view of a single block as completed at the factory. Fig. 5 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2 but showing a modification. Figs. 6`and 7 are the corresponding section and View of de- Atached block. Figs. S and 9 are a fragmentary side view and cross section of the simplest formof Ymy invention.

Y Fig. l0 illustrates the, employment of arch blocks formed `to allow radial'or inclined joints, as in the more proper forms of arched arches; and Fig. l1 shows the intermediate arch blocks for arches requiring them to fill in between the keystone block and the abutments. In the figures like letters of reference refer to like parts.

In the first four figures I show the form of my invention that employs blocks having smooth iiat inclined faces. single block as completed at the factory. It corresponds, when in place, to about two of the ordinary rectangular blocks, the inclina- Fig. 4 shows a tion vof the sides being solely for the purpose between vadjacent blocks. The main portion of the block about two feet long is indicated by B, and the end slab by b. The slabs Aclose the ends of the hollows giving the block four plane walls inclining inward, and, (with top and bottom) completely inclosing the hollows. The blocks therefore leave the factory, to'all intents and purposes, as if they were` light solid blocks.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the` block with its interior walls and hollows. In employing this formof block I first place end or springer blocks B properly cemented to the I-beams; though I may arrange the end block also with inclined faces toward the I-beams and fill in After the end blocks between with cement.

IOO

have been put in place the workmen can lay the other blocks in regular courses with bases touching each other and breaking joints. There will then be left V-shaped channels or spaces between the courses and between the blocks in each course. After this, cement may be poured in to entirely fill all the channels flush with the upper face of the floor. On account of the lesser strength, however, of the cement, necessarily employed for this purpose, I prefer to use a somewhat dryer composition and press it or tamp it firmly down between the blocks. This produces a very hard setting firm construction. It is of course well understood that in a flat arch or similar floor the compression strains are principally near the upper face of the floor and therefore the advantages of my construction will be apparent. Owing to the V-shape of the mortar joint the upper portions of the walls of the tiles are strongly reinforced by the broad ribs of cement or plaster running through the floor parallel with and between each course. This is one of the great and peculiar advantages of my invention, giving a maximum of strength for "a minimum of material.

In Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the same general principle of construction is followed out; but in place of the inclined sides I employ vertical block walls with projecting fiangcs or ribs at the lower edges, thus providing a projecting base and insuring spaces for the cement between the blocks, yet preserving all the advantages of perpendicular sides. In this way I avoid the danger of detaching, by

. shock or concentrated loads, a single block;

for it will be apparent that rectangular blocks would be more firmly retained by the surrounding blocks and cement than would the truncated-cone-shaped block first described. The blocks and end slabs b are formed in dies, in a manner well understood, and are preferably cemented together at the factory, ready for use.

Figs. 8 and 9 show the rectangular block with the base flanges omitted. In this form it is necessary to space the blocks as they are laid, which may be done by temporary wooden spacing pieces or by cord guides for each course. The cement is filled in after the spacing pieces have been removed, and the fioor is completed as in the other forms of my invention.

Where it is desired to incline the joints of the arches, as has heretofore very commonly been done, the inclination of my end slabs is increased or diminished accordingly, to allow the same space as before but to form an inclined joint. The shape of the blocks for such cases is illustrated in Figs. l0 and ll. B", Fig. l0, indicates the key block or key stone of the arch, and 13', Fig. 1l, indicates the intermediate block employed where five or more blocks to the span are used.

It must be understood from the foregoing description that all four sides of each block need not necessarily be inclined, flanged, or otherwise formed, or spaced, according to my invention; because clearly theprecise form of the cement joint running parallel with the course has little or nothing to do with the form of the joints used between the ends of blocks in each course. Therefore l". employ theterm Walls in the claims as applying alike to the side walls and to the end walls or slabs. Preferably, however, I form the incline or flange upon the side walls of the block as that conformation requires little change in the dies used.

I have now explained the essential features of my invention, and therefore, desiring to secure by these Letters Patent all modifications that may ne made without departing from the principles of my invention, as well as the details and features herein shown, l claim as my own the following:

l. A fioor or like structure constructed of courses of tiles or floor blocks, without the use of ILbeams or other girders within the said courses, the said tiles or blocks being provided with inclined sides forming channels between them, and mortar or other cement filling in the said channels and forming coinpression resisting ribs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A Hoor or like structure constructed of courses of tiles or floor blocks extending between supports and without the use of I- beams orother girders within the said courses, the said tiles or blocks being laid with spaces or channels as distinguished from more eementjoints between adjacent courses and between adjacent blocks in each course, and mortar or other cement filling in said channelshsubstantiall y as and for the purposes set fort 3. A floor or like block consisting ofa hollow tile B and end slabs ZJ closing the ends of the hollows, the walls of the said block proj ecting at the base whereby channels for the cement may be formed between adjacent blocks when placed nnase-to-base, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

lf. In combination in a floor, roof, or like structure, blocks provided with hollows, and slabs closing the said hollows and projecting bases leaving channels between adjacent blocks, and mortar or other cement filling the said channels, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

5. In combination in a floor, roof, or like structure, blocks provided with hollows and slabs b closing the said hollows, and laid with spaces between adjacent blocks, and ribs of mortar orother cement filling the said spaces between thc blocks, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 21st day of April, 1893.

THOMAS A. LEE.

Witnesses:

HAROLD BINNEY, MAY G. RIDLEY. 

